Money Matters
As our ageing population grows, so does the demand for more taxpayer dollars to be spent on health and superannuation. And that demand will fall increasingly on the younger and faster growing Maori and Pacific populations. SPASIFIK editor INNES LOGAN looks at our current plight and how we can turn it around for the country, for our community … and for ourselves.

Sparking into Action
Turning a trade into a business is one way of truly capitalising financially on your skills, providing you’re willing to learn the skills of running a business.

A Change is Coming
Assisting 10 high value Maori businesses and brands to achieve $10 million in foreign earnings within 10 years is just one of the aims for Tekau Plus, an export programme that also seeks to strengthen ties among Maori and Pacific to take to the world.

Borrowing Money? Know your rights
Most of us will borrow money from a bank, finance company, lender or pawnbroker at some time in our lives. It doesn’t matter how small or large the amount is, these loans will involve a credit contract.

Riverland Adventures
It was this business nous that saw Kukutai come out of retirement in the middle of the recession to start another business. This time, a tourism company in his home town of Te Kohanga, near Tuakau, called Riverland Adventures.

Mt Taranaki Adventures
Every year on Taranaki Anniversary Day Greg Rupapera (Ngäti Kahu, Ngä Ruahine) and his friends would run from the small township of Kaponga, on the southern side of Mt Taranaki, to Dawson Falls in the Egmont National Park. They would then cycle back down the 14km roadway before meeting up with friends and whänau for a barbeque.

Managing our Money
DARRYL EVANS, CEO of the Mangere Budgeting Services, provides some vital tips to borrowing, budgeting and avoid the pitfalls of consumerism.

The right Stratigi
Established in 2003, Stratigi Limited has provided leading marketing, communication and business solutions to companies across Auckland, Coromandel, Bay of Plenty and the Waikato.

Meilelani - Heaven in Samoa
The Pacific Islands Trade & Investment Commission (PITIC) is at the forefront in assisting businesses in the islands in export and promotion. Under PITIC New Zealand’s Export Marketing programme Mailelani, a Samoan-based business owned and operated by the husband and wife team of Kitiona and Sylvie Salanoa, are turning coconuts into quality soaps, oils and lotions and selling them to the world. Sylvie shares their story with NATASHA GREER.

Joining together by Trade
The New Zealand Pacific Business Council’s third Pacific Trade Expo at the TelstraClear Events Centre on September 21-22 will be the biggest yet. Chairman Gilbert Ullrich wants it to provide impetus into strengthening trade relationships with Pacific countries, which can no longer be taken for granted.

Master of Many Trades
When Cyclone Pat wrecked havoc on Clinton Hewett’s home of Aitutaki in the Cook Islands in February, he immediately headed home to help friends and family. It was only weeks after he moved from the picturesque island to Auckland to begin his new job at Wiri Pacific. His only comfort is at least he’s in a position to provide practical help on the road to recovery. NATASHA GREER reports.

Helping Pacific families get ahead
The National-led Government's focus for all communities in 2010 is lifting our economic performance.